Anyway, enough of me complaining about humans complaining. Lately you hear people everywhere saying how much they dislike Facebook. They complain about other people that use it all the time, they complain about it making the global village smaller, they complain that it is unsociable. Often these same people will be seen on Facebook in photos of their Wednesday night dinner party, photos of their new-born baby or their drunken night out on the town. Or they’ll be the ones that “likes” everybody’s status updates, photos, video links, blog posts, or whatever.

My theory is deep down inside, everybody enjoys Facebook. After all, humans love gossip. We like to stay up to date with what’s happening in everybody’s lives. Whether you’re a regular, or whether you just login once a week, we all love it! It’s like the reality TV shows when they came out. Everybody was nailed to the TV set, because we love watching drama and Facebook is full of drama.

I happen to visit Facebook quite often as I am a web developer and work on the internet every day of my life. To me it’s just another communication tool, like having Skype, Gmail and Outlook open all at the same time. And then the phone rings…

I remember way back when cellphones came out. Before cellphones, people could only get hold of you if you were at home or at the office. That’s it. It was great! Now you can be reached just about anywhere. But why I bring up those days is, I remember back then how people complained about cellphones. Some people even said they will never get one. It was almost as if people had this whole “big brother” fear about cellphones. Now it is an everyday thing. If you don’t have one, you’re just plain weird (I actually met someone the other day that does not have a cellphone, or an email address for that matter, weirdo). The point I’m trying to get to, if I can maybe stop interrupting myself, is this. My generation were still in our teens when cellphones came out and we easily accepted them. I remember it was mostly the older generation that were scared of them and who said they will never own one. Now the people that complain about Facebook are my generation and upwards. It’s the younger generations below us that are accepting it as the next best thing.

I remember when I started chatting on the internet. Everything was very anonymous. You used an alias and an avatar and no-one knew your real name. It was almost unheard of that you’ll expose your real identity to people in chat rooms. The first time I joined Facebook, I signed up with an alias. Haha! Needless to say, it did not take me long to figure out that it defeats the whole purpose. It took me a very long time to get accustomed to the idea of actually putting a photo of myself on the internet.

Our kids will grow up with Facebook being just another tool like a cellphone. It will probably be so integrated into our society by then that we won’t even think of it as a social website anymore, but more like a service that make our lives easier. Just like we used to crack jokes about our parents being old and not accepting new technology, our children one day will do exactly the same thing. They will probably be like, “But Dad, how did you get anything done if you did not have Facebook when you were growing up?” If used cleverly, Facebook can be a very useful tool (besides network marketing).

Facebook is here to stay. You might as well get used to it. Embrace the change. Technology is here for us. It is here to make our lives easier. It is progress. If you don’t want it, don’t use it and go back to your cave. And if you dislike it so much, why do you still have a profile on Facebook? It’s really easy to deactivate it, just go check under your account settings, it’s right there. Just a few clicks away. Otherwise, just keep your sad opinions to yourself.

Die Antwoord

Die Antwoord is currently a big hit in the USA. I don’t think they know what hit them! Check out this review after their performance at Coachella 2010. I find it quite amazing that people that don’t have any idea of afrikaans or South African culture find them so mind blowing.

Ninja (Waddy Jones and Max Normal), Yolandi Vi$$er and DJ Hi Tek are pure geniuses. Some of the speculation on Die Antwoord just shows that people ‘just don’t get it’. It reminds me a lot of art critics. They’ll take a painting of a flower and try to dissect what the artist was thinking and feeling at the time when in fact the guy was just thinking, ‘Wow, what a pretty flower, lets paint it!’

Ninja and Yolandi (oh and sorry, all cuedos to DJ Hi Tek too) have taken all the bits of South African culture, no matter how crude, threw it in a potjie, cooked it up and got Die Antwoord as a result. No matter how crude the lyrics, the music is awesome and their live performance is definitely ‘something to write home about’. And to think they launched it all over the internet. It’s pure genius!

I can’t help to feel proud to have these guys in our ring. Ninja, Yolandi, DJ Hi Tek, you go boys (and girl)! Enter the flex, access that inner zef and keep making us proud! Show them what South Africa is all about.

To put it mildly, it feels like things are on thin ice, as South Africa’s political status as far as race is concerned has never been a very bright one.

But now lets be optimistic and look at the glass half-full instead of half-empty.

We here in South Africa have come a very long way politically. With the release of Nelson Mandela and then him becoming president, there has been a lot of positive change in South Africa. Hey, we’re the “Rainbow Nation” after all. Now with the FIFA World Cup right around the corner, things are really coming to a climax. South Africa is under the looking glass, so to speak.

Is this not our hour of truth. What happens next would determine whether we’ve passed the test and have finally matured as a nation. Someone like Julius Malema who is still clinging to the old racial crap is not a good ambassador for our country, but seeing the reaction from other politicians sure does give a glimmer of hope.

This morning I was invited to a Facebook group called, “Malema, a Love Letter“. This group was started by someone who very clearly looks at the glass half-full. The whole point behind her view is, don’t fight fire with fire, lets douse the fire and educate at the same time. Everyone should write a letter to Julius Malema detailing their hopes and dreams for our nation. It is meant to serve as an eye opener. At the moment everyone is attacking him which clearly is not helping and the only thing it’s good for is to fuel the fire.

The guy is ignorant. He needs to be educated. He is only reacting the way he does due to his ignorance. He does not know better. He is still living in the dark ages of racial divide. It is very clear from his statements and also by a statement made by one of the members of the Facebook group that some black people still go around with the idea in their heads that white people are being brought up to believe they cannot trust black people and that all black people are criminals. This is ridiculous!! And then in the same instance they say that South Africans need to stand together. How can we stand together when this is the crap that are being fed to the ignorant. It’s like the blind leading the blind. It’s a recipe for disaster.

The Facebook group will lead you to this article, Malema, a love letter. There it will give you details on how to publish your letter. Lets show the world that we have stood the test of time and that we have now matured into a true Rainbow Nation.

Then you can’t help to wonder what the real issue behind this price increase is. Is it really to improve the country’s electricity infrastructure or is it merely to line the pockets of the fat cats at the top. I believe it is the latter and I have very good reason to believe so.

This morning The Herald published an article wherein it is stated that Eskom was offered an opportunity to partner with a Madagascar-based company called Cyclocean. Paul Greyshock, a representative of the company, has been based in East London for the past month researching the possibility of harnessing the energy from the Agulhas current flowing off the coast of East London. Greyshock says, “The energy at Agulhas is more than all the coal in the world.” (aaarrrgghhhh, are they that stupid??!!)

Eskom merely had to invest R150 000 for a joint-risk project whereby a test unit is set in place to determine the optimum placement for future units. Eskom said they did not have the finance as they need to take care of the two new power stations in their care. (another aarrrrggghh!!!)

“They’ve been responsive there (Florida),” Greyshock said. “I don’t think Eskom was ready for this – (the technology) may be a bit ahead of its time.” (got that damn right!!!)

Eskom did not comment!!!! (I rest my case)

Apparently the door has been left open for a partnership.

You can read the full article in The Herald here, Eskom snubs ocean energy solution.

How will we ever move forward as a country? Shouldn’t the government be stepping in here. I thought the idea was that the whole world is looking for ways to save resources and stop abusing the planet.

This proves a very fine point (as if we did not know this already!!). Eskom is just out to make more money from the consumer. They sure as hell don’t want to hear about cheaper energy solutions as they simply “cannot afford it” (in more ways than one).

Please forward this to everyone you know!!

Now that I have had a chance to stay there for a month, I got a better feel for the place. Besides it’s beauty, which is the first observation, I now had a chance to get a feel for the capetonians. I suddenly realised that they are not the nicest bunch of people in this country. It seems almost everybody is walking around with a chip on their shoulder. And please don’t get me wrong, I met some amazing people there, but they are few and far between. The majority seems to feel they are somehow superior to the rest of humanity. They are unfriendly and unhelpful. This includes the people in the service industry. You’re almost too scared to ask them for any assistance.

So now I’ve been trying to figure out what exactly this is. I recall a lot of stand-up comedians making fun of this. They seem to think it’s because of the mountain. Like, “we’re sooo cool dude, we havva mountain an’ all”. Haha! I have to honestly say, I think this is exactly what it is!! The people living farther away from the city do not seem to suffer from this, just the bunch living in Table Mountain’s shadow.

So I tried to imagine what Cape Town would be like without the mountain. And the answer is, it will just be another city! Just like Jo’burg or some or other polluted, busy place.

Capetonians really need to lighten up. They’re living in one of the world’s most beautiful cities. It reminds me of the saying, ‘Beauty only runs skin deep’.

People this is not a 4 way stop! It does not work like a traffic light either. And NO, it is not first come first serve, neither was it designed for people to show how polite they are by letting other people go first.

To those of you who have legally obtained your licenses and have
actually done the K53, you will remember that you learned that traffic
from the right has right of way. That’s it. It’s that simple.

Come now people. I know it’s been hard with traffic circles and speed
bumps (don’t even get me started on the bloody speed bumps!) going up all over town, but they’re here to stay, deal with it
and learn the rules!

We weren’t sure what to expect. No offence to the beautiful people from Oudtshoorn, but the town does have the reputation for being “boer country”.

We were pleasantly surpised though. The pub has been done up quite nicely. Outside is a very big garden area, which is just as well as the weather in Oudtshoorn does not allow one to break it down on the dance floor for any extended period of time.
There is also a pub outside, but this was not manned the night we were there.

Inside is the main bar area with a DJ and dance area. There is also a pool table. Decor is fairly upmarket and the place is clean and tidy. The DJ obviously has his hands full as he has to cater for quite a diverse crowd. We heard everything from trance, rave, grunge to real “afrikaanse sokkie jol”.

All the patrons were very friendly, except for a few “boere” who seemed a bit intimidating, but I suppose it’s from wrestling ostriches all day.

I had the opportunity to meet one of the owners who also works behind the bar. Very friendly guy who really just wants to make sure you’re having a good time and having fun. The club is owned by a father and son team.

If you are ever on that side of our country, be sure to give Lemon ‘n Lime a visit. Great venue and many friendly faces.

Roving around we also found that some friends of ours were parked right by us. Think about it this way. 6000 people make how many cars?

The Ox Braai is just that. It’s an Ox Braai. There are huge fires with meat being braaied all over the place. Cover charge at the gate gets you in, pays for your parking and also your food.
There were some live bands (apparently, I never saw them) and later on some DJ’s. People get very trashed and it gets quite debauched.

We moved around quite a bit and had some pleasant conversations at various fires.

All in all a good experience. Worth checking out if you’re up for a wild party.

Being not only a DJ but also a producer sets Fletcher apart from the rest and he definitely sets the milestone when it comes to his genre of music.
I had a brief chat with him that evening and he said we can look out for his new album at the end of January 2009.

You can also join the group on Facebook here, African Dope Records on Facebook.

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